A Thought for Today

“What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.” - Psalm 116:12 - 19

These are the words of one of the offertory songs that we sing. What shall we give BACK to the Lord for everything that He has given to us? God has blessed us. How will we show our gratitude? How do we show our love for God and our love for one another? We do so by our offerings to Him. We give of ourselves and of our possessions, our talents, our time and our selves. Using your talents to serve and praise the Lord is the REASON that we were given these gifts. Just as Jesus gave us the gift of His sacrifice as atonement for our sins, we can give back to God the gifts he has given us as a thanksgiving. How do others show their love of God and their love for us? They give of themselves and of their possessions. We must receive.
We give and receive. This demonstration of our love of God and of one another develops a rhythm, a heartbeat. The cycle forms a pulse that provides the lifeblood of a congregation, a church, our religion. The two greatest commandments of our faith are to love God and to love our neighbors. To obey these commandments, we must give of ourselves. What can you give? What can you give more of?
There are so many ways that you can give of yourself to give to the Lord. God gives us gifts so that we can use them in His service and glory. Consider what gifts that the Lord has given to you that you can use to give back to Him. What shall you render to the Lord for all His benefits to you? In chapter 12, verse 48, Luke writes: From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. We have been blessed. We have been given much. We have given much. Much can be done with a little. If everyone commits, if everyone gives a little more, if everyone does a little more; so much more can be done.

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